What does the verse mean: "Many are called but few are chosen"

[Scribe]

Do you think that the intended application of the four gospels has to do with the Jew/gentile question more than an exposure of God for all mankind? Often people who believe this say lots of what God tells us about His principles in the OT was only for the national state of Israel, and they feel that no gentile is included in Israel. Christ stated that He came for the Jews.

The Missio Dei (Mission of God) has been carried out the way it has for a reason. We must understand it within the framework that God intended as He has revealed it through the history of mankind and the world when he separated out one man Abraham and made his seed innumerable and through His specific plan of Israel brought the Savior of the world. The revelation of salvation for all nations is part of that Missio Dei and unfortunately the Jews did not grasp it even though it was clearly revealed in the prophets. You are correct, many do not understand what they are saying when they say things like "that was for the Jews" or "that is Old Testament" etc. For example. Reading Isaiah 50-53 And you read about things related to the call for Israel to come out of Babylon because God has restored them and they are called to rebuild Jerusalem, but most of what he is talking about also refers to Jesus Christ and the salvation He will accomplish for all mankind. Paul quotes many of these verses as relating to Jesus Christ salvation and promises for the Church. Now when we read these passages that Paul quotes as applicable to the Church then we have the authority to interpret them as applicable to us also, even though they were about being rescued from Babylon they are also about being rescued from sin and the world in general. So they have both an application for Israel as a shadow but also an application about Jesus and the Church. However, in order to apply these passages in Isaiah to Jesus and the Church you still have to understand their immediate application concerning Babylon or you will not grasp how they apply to the church. When it says things like "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of them..." Is 52 Paul applies it to Gospel preachers. In Isaiah it is talking about the messengers coming to tell those in Jerusalem which was in ruins, that the edict had gone forth from Cyrus to let the people go and they were on their way back to rebuild Jerusalem. As we meditate on the immediate application and then apply it to Gospel preachers as Paul it will yield rich revelation but only if we first understand it in the context of the shadow application will we get these awesome Jesus/Gospel/Church applications correct.

 

[Blik]

The Missio Dei (Mission of God) has been carried out the way it has for a reason. We must understand it within the framework that God intended as He has revealed it through the history of mankind and the world when he separated out one man Abraham and made his seed innumerable and through His specific plan of Israel brought the Savior of the world. The revelation of salvation for all nations is part of that Missio Dei and unfortunately the Jews did not grasp it even though it was clearly revealed in the prophets. You are correct, many do not understand what they are saying when they say things like "that was for the Jews" or "that is Old Testament" etc. For example. Reading Isaiah 50-53 And you read about things related to the call for Israel to come out of Babylon because God has restored them and they are called to rebuild Jerusalem, but most of what he is talking about also refers to Jesus Christ and the salvation He will accomplish for all mankind. Paul quotes many of these verses as relating to Jesus Christ salvation and promises for the Church. Now when we read these passages that Paul quotes as applicable to the Church then we have the authority to interpret them as applicable to us also, even though they were about being rescued from Babylon they are also about being rescued from sin and the world in general. So they have both an application for Israel as a shadow but also an application about Jesus and the Church. However, in order to apply these passages in Isaiah to Jesus and the Church you still have to understand their immediate application concerning Babylon or you will not grasp how they apply to the church. When it says things like "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of them..." Is 52 Paul applies it to Gospel preachers. In Isaiah it is talking about the messengers coming to tell those in Jerusalem which was in ruins, that the edict had gone forth from Cyrus to let the people go and they were on their way back to rebuild Jerusalem. As we meditate on the immediate application and then apply it to Gospel preachers as Paul it will yield rich revelation but only if we first understand it in the context of the shadow application will we get these awesome Jesus/Gospel/Church applications correct.

Thanks so much for answering me so frankly.

My thought is that we are asked to freely let the Jews go in our minds without judging them. It is only the Lord's place to judge them and the Lord tells us He will never go back on His promises to them. Paul explains this so well. We are also asked to respect and even thank them for the role God gave them to play in restoring the awareness of God in our lives those many years ago when God spoke to Abraham. The world of the days Abraham lived was filled with idols who represented demons. Now, they have been blinded for our sakes.

With these things in mind, I prefer to think of the messages in scripture as messages for us, and let the Jew/gentile problem be only in God's hands. We are to learn of the Pharisees to learn of the ways the Lord has for us.

 

[Scribe]

Thanks so much for answering me so frankly.

My thought is that we are asked to freely let the Jews go in our minds without judging them. It is only the Lord's place to judge them and the Lord tells us He will never go back on His promises to them. Paul explains this so well. We are also asked to respect and even thank them for the role God gave them to play in restoring the awareness of God in our lives those many years ago when God spoke to Abraham. The world of the days Abraham lived was filled with idols who represented demons. Now, they have been blinded for our sakes.

With these things in mind, I prefer to think of the messages in scripture as messages for us, and let the Jew/gentile problem be only in God's hands. We are to learn of the Pharisees to learn of the ways the Lord has for us.

1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

2Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

We are encouraged to remember that we are carved out of the quarry of the faith of Abraham and to emulate his faith. Even if we are one in number we are to obey the Lord in the great Commission and watch what God can do when he has possession of our whole heart. We might be in a small church and if that church gets a hold of faith and follows after righteousness and seeks the Lord then God will be great things and multiply them like the stars of heaven.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

I am unsure of the meaning of this verse. At first i thought that all Christians automatically go to heaven once they accept Christ. But now I'm wondering if this verse indicates that not all Christians will go to heaven. I know some Christians who are more devils than Christian. I know other Christians who lie, and still others who are respecter of persons. So it made me seriously re-think whether all Christians were really going to heaven.

Of course, not all Christians will go to heaven, If we are not violent then we will not enter in, it takes a lot of dedication, perseverance and going through horrible situations that make someone have ability to enter in. Heaven is not easy, it says few are saved, and that its said by experts that many people will go to hell. Remember the sower of the seed parable, and that just relates to people who use their faith, it doesnt include unbelievers and people of different faiths.

 

[Karraster]

I am unsure of the meaning of this verse. At first i thought that all Christians automatically go to heaven once they accept Christ. But now I'm wondering if this verse indicates that not all Christians will go to heaven. I know some Christians who are more devils than Christian. I know other Christians who lie, and still others who are respecter of persons. So it made me seriously re-think whether all Christians were really going to heaven.

Hi, I can only paraphrase "Many are called, but few choose to respond accordingly" this is from a teaching long ago that stuck with me because it was tied in with the Word as a whole idea. It fit with such parables like the wedding invitation and some had not washed their robes, therefore did not have proper wedding garments. Wedding garments have been described as righteousness(s) of the saints or righteous acts. Another verse to support this "who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17). In other words, our faith must be backed up with action.